Information minister Mohammed Idris says the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) will consider President Bola Tinubu’s government’s offers to suspend their planned strike.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Mr Idris on Sunday. He said this was one of the decisions reached at the Sunday meeting between the labour unions and the government. The minister added that it would allow for further consultations on implementing the resolutions reached.

According to the minister, the unions noted that the federal government had announced N35,000 only as a provisional wage increment for all treasury-paid federal government workers for six months.

“Also, the federal government is committed to fast-tracking the provision of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to ease public transportation difficulties associated with the removal of PMS subsidy. The federal government commits to the provision of funds for micro and small-scale enterprises. VAT on diesel will be waived for the next six months,” the minister explained.

Mr Idris further explained that the federal government would commence payment of N75,000 to 15 million households at N25,000 per month for three months, from October to December 2023.

The minister also stated that the meeting observed that the issues in dispute could only be resolved when workers are at work and not on strike.

Mr Idris, who was part of the meeting, revealed that the labour unions argued for a higher wage while the federal government team promised to present their requests to President Bola Tinubu for further consideration.

“A sub-committee will be constituted to work out the details of implementation of all items for consideration regarding government interventions to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal. NLC and TUC will consider the offers by the federal government with a view to suspending the planned strike to allow for further consultations on the implementation of the resolutions above,” the minister stated.

The NLC and TUC had directed their members and affiliates nationwide to begin mobilisation for an indefinite strike that would commence on October 3. 

(NAN)